Main Menu

3 March 2007

Six up seconds back on track

 Derby Asterdale 2nd XI  2   Coalville Town 2nd XI  6

DTZ 2nd XI East Midlands Division One

Coalville's second string got their promotion in DTZ East Midlands Division One back on track with a comfortable win over lowly Derby Asterdale.

Town turned in a display of controlled hockey and never really looked like being beaten by the struggling home side. Coalville were quickly out of the blocks and could have opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Scott Meadows' cross was met by Darren Ward, but the Town forward couldn't quite turn home.

But it was only a matter of time before Coalville did open the scoring, and seven minutes later Brent Clamp fired home after good work from Ollie Knight and Steve Partner.

Three minutes later Coalville were 2-0 up when Ward this time hit the target with a strike at a penalty corner. But the changed Coalville side then began to lose the battle in the centre of the park and this allowed Derby to come back into it.

Only a smart save from Joel Barker prevented the home side from getting a goal back on 20 minutes, but there was nothing the Town keeper could do a few minutes later when a strong strike from a penalty corner thundered into the Coalville goal.

Coalville looked to move up a gear after this, and could have gone 3-1 up had Niki Arnold hit the target after a blistering run down the right by Meadows. But Town's persistance paid off moments before the interval when Arnold got onto the scoresheet by firing home at a penalty corner.

The second half saw more of the same as Coalville quickly extended their lead to 4-1 when Arnold picked the ball up in midfield and drove through the home defence and slipped it into the path of Ward who fired home his second of the afternoon.

Town were now bossing it, with Jason Sign, Partner and Ian Wright at the back pushing forward more and more as Coalville sought further goals, and Carl Marshall, as ever, Mr Dependable at the back.

Knight soon went close with a good effort for Town, but it was Asterdale who struck next with a good goal on the break in the 45th minute to make it 4-2.

But Coalville didn't let that worry them and in the 51st minute made it 5-2 when skipper Tony Crowie, who had a magnificent game, beat three Derby defenders and played it to Arnold. Town's top scorer beat another couple of tackles before firing home an unstoppable shot.

Coalville had further chances to add to the scoreline but it wasn't until a defender's foot stopped a shot on the line and resulted in Coalville being awarded a penalty stroke that they made it 6-2. Arnold stepping up to complete his hat-trick and well deserved win for Town.

4 March 2007

Four more on a soggy Sunday

Coalville Town 2nd XI   4  Soar Valley 2nd XI   1

Despite dreadful conditions, Coalville's second string made it two wins out of two at the weekend by seeing off the challenge of bottom of the table Soar Valley.

Coalville again started strongly and were in front as early as the fifth minute in this DTZ East Midlands Division One game. Some enterprising allowed Town to win a penalty corner and the ball was switched around to allow Brent Clamp to fire home his second goal in two days.

It soon became 2-0 when Niki Arnold met a cross fired across the dee and turned home after some good passing between Clamp, Phil Sign, Darren Conway and Tony Crowie.

After 15 minutes it was 3-0 when Darren Ward was on hand to fire home after good approach work from the Coalville midfield. Soar Valley began to fight back after this and managed to stop the barrage of goals to see the game through to half time at 3-0.

The second half was a more even affair as Soar Valley began to play some decent hockey, and Ian Wright at the back had to be in good form.

Skipper Crowie continued to lead from the front, and urged more out of his teammates. But 20 minutes into the second half, the visitors got a goal back that gave Joel Barker no chance.

Coalville then responded and upped the tempo, and with 10 minutes to go they made it 4-1 when Ward was again on hand to turn home and seal a good win that should leave Town's fate in their own hands.